One of the most significant roadway or parking lot hazards is when concrete begins to buckle. Buckled concrete often requires immediate repair, leading to inconvenient shutdowns and last-minute reconstruction. In many cases, buckled concrete can be prevented with proper installation and maintenance. Read on to learn more about concrete paving, concrete buckling, and what you can do about it.
Concrete Buckling: Why it Happens
Why does concrete buckle? Concrete is prone to buckling because of extreme temperature changes in the environment. In many cases, the problem begins during the winter when the concrete shrinks because of cold weather, causing the cracking of a construction joint. Then, during the intense heat of the summer, the hot roads cause concrete expansion. When this happens, the joints start to push and rub against each other, which can cause the surface to buckle on a weak spot. The concrete slabs are pushed upward on the joint, causing the concrete to shatter, resulting in a safety hazard.
Don’t Ignore These Warning Signs
While concrete is one of the strongest building materials on the planet, it can still be prone to damage, especially under the wrong conditions. Over time, extreme weather conditions begin to take their toll on the concrete, causing it to wear down. Here are some warning signs that your concrete is damaged and may buckle or break.
Cracking
Seeing a crack in concrete is a frustrating experience, and often leads to the question “How does concrete crack?” The expansion and contraction of the soil underneath the concrete often cause cracking. Any chemicals touching broken concrete surfaces can cause even further damage, such as gas, oil, and de-icing salt. Water seeping into the cracks and freezing can cause further damage because it expands when it freezes. Any crack in paving means that it needs repair.
Pooling Water
Standing water that remains on the concrete after a storm has the potential to cause issues. Poor drainage issues can erode and weaken the concrete, which can wear down the foundation of the concrete. Any water that does not properly drain off the concrete can lead to sunken concrete, which can cause hazards and further damage in the future.
Pitting and Potholes
Chips that have flaked off the surface of the concrete mean that the surface is deteriorating, causing a weakened slab and structural problems down the road. Cracks and pits that aren’t fixed can lead to the formation of potholes. As cars and traffic drive over these weakened spots in the slab, the holes get more extensive, which is a traffic hazard. Repairing minor problems, such as pitting, cracking, and small holes, before they become more significant problems is critical to maintaining a safe surface.
Any Signs of Aging
Though concrete is a strong material, it does not last forever. The surface of your concrete can age over time, looking rough and ragged. A visible worn appearance, along with visible spots and stains, weaken the surface. Oxidation, overexposure to heat, and fading over time can weaken the slab.
Uneven Slabs
As concrete slabs age, they can be prone to settling unevenly. Slabs that sink unevenly, such as a driveway or sidewalk slabs, can be prone to damage. As the weight is distributed inconsistently throughout the slab, the concrete can crack, leading to further issues. Uneven slabs are a sure sign that the damage needs to be addressed before more problems appear.
How Skilled Concrete Paving Pros Can Prevent Breaking and Buckling
The best way to prevent any concrete issues is to ensure that the concrete is constructed and maintained correctly. Whether the concrete surface is an interstate road or a driveway, proper concrete design and execution are required to prevent potential problems. Though there may be many different paving possibilities, many of them incorporate the following elements:
Subgrade
Subgrade is the native material that exists where the paved surface will be installed. This road layer must be compacted and smooth to support the road above it. It supports strength to the overlaying payment, prevents frost and settling, and provides drainage.
Base
As the foundation for any paving surface, the base is the foundation for paving. It’s usually comprised of crushed gravel, limestone, or granite. The base is applied to the subgrade and packed down, and allowed to harden.
Support
In some pavement applications, rebar or reinforced steel is applied before the concrete is poured. This form of support increases the tensile strength of the concrete, which helps it to resist cracking and breaking. Reinforced concrete has been proven to withstand heavier loads and last longer than unreinforced concrete.
Concrete Paving
The top layer of a paving project is the concrete itself. Concrete is poured on the rebar and base and smoothed to create an ideal roadway surface. Next, comes the setting and curing process. How does concrete set? Concrete begins to solidify shortly after being poured through the chemical profess of hydration. Water that was mixed with the concrete begins to react with the cement, bonding all components together to create a stone-like material. Then, the concrete must be cured appropriately based on application.
Joints in the concrete must allow for proper expansion and contraction of the paving surface to prevent any buckling problems. Proper curing and roadway support are essential to ensuring that a paved surface lasts many years to come.
Professional, Experienced Paving Team
Lastly, hiring the right team is the most important element in a paving project. You should hire a paving company that is not only insured and bonded, but has the experience and equipment necessary to complete the project successfully. An experienced paving company will know how to correctly execute the job. Hiring a professional like Morgan Pavement will give you peace of mind knowing that the paving was done correctly.
Contact Us for Professional Concrete Paving in Salt Lake City, Nevada and Beyond
With many years of experience and over 20 crews throughout the Western United States, the professionals at Morgan Pavement have the knowledge and capacity to complete your project successfully. Not only do we offer concrete paving, but we also offer a wide variety of concrete paving services. Our dedication to quality and service makes us the industry leader in the paving industry. From federal roadways to driveways, we can tackle it all. Request a bid for your next project today.
